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Artist

Soobin Lee

Soobin Lee (이수빈) is a ceramist who deeply engaged with ceramics, which serves as her research and creative field. Her works gently unfold the artist's anxieties and uncertainties. As a stranger, she seeks her own future in the skies of London. The dense, dark clouds and the faintly shining clear sky with a silver lining evoke both the worries of an unplanned future and the hope beyond. The uncertainties and anxieties she encounters are not only the existential anxieties that prove human existence but also the realistic issues of a young individual stepping out of her comfort zone to face a larger world as an artist.

Q1. What inspires the artist?

Soobin is inspired when she captures scenes of the everyday sky and transforms them into art. Her recent pieces reflect the ambivalent emotions beneath London's sky—hope mixed with helplessness. The clear sky obscured by dense clouds symbolises a promising future and the harsh realities that obstruct it. Everyone experiences these moments, whether brief or prolonged; she records them through clay vessels, layering them like peeling away clouds.

Q2. What does being a female artist mean?

Soobin realizes that how she perceives the term "female artist" has been like a window into the changes in her life and professional attitude. There were times when she raged against the term "female artist," feeling that it hindered and limited her growth, acting like a magnet for the discrimination she faced in life. Now, having experienced kindness from loved ones and many strangers, she sees "female artist" as one of the many descriptors that express who she is, and as the name of a supportive community that protects her. Being among peers who share the same identity and similar experiences feels like being part of a cohesive tribe.

Q3. How does Korean culture influence artist's art?

Soobin doesn't necessarily think of her work as being profoundly Korean or deeply rooted in tradition, but given that Korea is where she was born, raised, and first learned ceramics, it inevitably influences her creations. She often finds herself drawn back to the cobalt blue of traditional Korean porcelain and preferring simple, gentle lines over explosive and intense forms. This seems to stem from her enduring affection for Joseon white porcelain, which she has always admired.

Q4. Who are the female artist role models, and why?

Soobin feels humbled and grateful for the path she treads, adorned with wildflowers, thanks to the pioneering women artists who went ahead of her, wielding machetes and pickaxes. She particularly admires Kim Yik-yung, with whom she worked as an assistant for a short time. Kim Yik-yung is a first-generation ceramic artist who studied abroad and, now nearing 90 years old, continues to be actively involved in academia and the broader realm of practical arts. Observing Kim Yik-yung's relentless dedication to her work and her constant planning of new projects taught Soobin Lee the true attitude of a creator. She wishes Kim Yik-yung long-lasting health.

Q5. What projects are currently being worked on?

Soobin Lee’s works are broadly divided into two categories: 'Painted Ceramics' and 'Vessel.' While the two categories' forms and technical characteristics differ, both are inspired by cloudy sky. Working on different series under the same theme helps her enjoy and sustain her work for longer. Soobin has recently contemplated creating tea utensils based on the 'Layer' series. As she appreciates that making and drinking tea or coffee are essential activities for many people, Soobin explores how to connect these two mundane activities through her work.

SoobinLee_TheLayers_Grouppic1.jpg

The Layers 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 2024

Stoneware, Ceramics

28.5~41(h) x 18~27(d) cm each

Where am I now? What role do I play here? As an individual and artist, how do I navigate and understand my emotions, and overcome my anxiety?

After landing in London, Soobin's world changed. A 14-hour flight made her a stranger, a minority in the bustling city. Yet, the sky remained a constant, stretching above, embracing all. The London’s sky - dense clouds with occasional silver linings - symbolises her emotional journey, reflecting both her worries about an uncertain future and the hope within. Through ceramics, Soobin channels these emotions. She embraces her anxiety and nervousness as integral elements to her identity, similar to clouds embodying calm while holding storms within.

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